Cops: School For Bookies Raided

3 R`s Include Rigging The Odds In House`s Favor

Chicago police Wednesday night raided what they described as the city`s first school for bookies.

Detectives from the gambling unit said they abruptly terminated the fledging bookmaking career of Frank H. Bura, 22, of 4952 S. La Crosse Ave., in his first week on the job.

They also arrested two older men, described by police as Bura`s instructors, Ralph Solone, 37, of 2325 S. Cuyler Ave., Berwyn, and Tore G. Leno, also 37, of 4939 S. La Crosse Ave., in a basement at 5537 S. Washtenaw Ave.

``From what we could gather, the two older guys were running a school for youngsters on how to figure out such sports betting intricacies as how to keep the house from losing by taking too many bets on one team,`` said Sgt. Don Herion.

``That takes training and a mathematical mind.``

Apparently, Herion said, the instructors had not yet taught Bura how to figure the odds in his head. An electric calculator with a printout tape was found on the table at which Bura allegedly took bets over the telphone.

Detective Jack Nolan pointed out that Bura is a neighbor of Leno and was hired a week ago to work in the basement wireroom where wagers were being taken on collegiate and professional basketball games.

According to detectives Harry McKenna and Wayne Lloyd, the bookmaking school curriculum also included a course on how to properly barricade a wireroom against police intrusions.

McKenna said three two-by-four inch timbers were mounted in brackets on the back of the door, which also was secured by a deadbolt lock. In addition, the pins holding the hinges had been welded into position to prevent police from unhinging the door.

``That`s what you really call overkill,`` McKenna said.

However, in this case, the safeguards failed to foil police, he said.

Detectives overheard, through an open window, wagers being taken on the telephone and waited until the three alleged bookmakers shut down their operation for the evening and walked out the door.

It was then that they were arrested and charged with syndicated gambling, Sgt. Herion said. The three men will appear April 15 in Rackets Court.